GM North American President Mark Reuss just stopped by the MT HQ in an almost-ready-for-prime-time 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 all done up in fancy camo duds. Any Camaro ZL1 is bound to be a special beast, but this car is even more so – just two weeks ago, this very 580-hp supercharged rocket lapped the Nurburgring in a wickedly fast 7:41.27. Unofficially, of course…The 2012 Camaro ZL1’s Ring time not surprisingly puts it in some extraordinarily fast company. According to all-knowing Wikipedia, the ZL1’s time is less than a second slower than a 997 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo S (7:41.23) and a 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera (7:40.76) as tested by Auto Bild. For those keeping score, the last time a Camaro SS went around the Nurburgring it posted a Ring time of around 8:20. Wow.

According to Reuss, this almost production ready Camaro ZL1 set its staggering time a couple of weeks ago when GM took it to the Nurburgring for some last-minute development time. “We were over there driving it, [and working on] final calibration and validations of the thermal capability, and then we recorded our lap time of 7 minutes and 41 seconds.” GM was at the ‘Ring doing some last minute calibrations to the Camaro’s final gear ratios, among other things.

Like the Corvette ZR1 and Z06 before it, the Camaro ZL1 set its lap time with about 30 lbs of testing gear sitting in the trunk, plus a full roll cage, a five-point racing harness and a fire suppression system added on for safety. On top of that, the Camaro wasn’t driven by some hot-shoe racing driver like a certain $400,000 Toyota; the driver behind the wheel of the ZL1 was one of the team’s engineers. “Aaron Link, who’s one of our terrific new drivers through our driver’s training program for engineers at GM set the time,” said Reuss, “He’s also the lead development engineer on it and he did a wonderful job for us.”

So we know the Camaro ZL1 is fast, but how does it drive? Unfortunately we weren’t able to get behind the wheel of the ZL1 just yet, but Reuss couldn’t stop going on about how easy it is to drive the ZL1 fast. “It’s power all the time, capability all the time, and the steering and tractability of the car is just phenomenal,” he told us. Reuss also told us that this Camaro easily (and often) hit speeds of 170 mph on the 'Ring's back straight, and that even from those speeds the ZL1 exhibited, “Some serious braking power.” Reuss added, “We never faded the brakes on it.”The differences between the Camaro ZL1 and your run-of-the-mill SS are deeper than faster lap times. For starters, the ZL1 packs a 580-hp 6.2-liter supercharged LSA V-8 under the hood that produces a massive 556 lb-ft of torque. The Camaro ZL1 also comes with a five mode Performance Traction Management system which Reuss said, “Actually changes the character of the car. Because of the electric power steering unit, and the magnetic ride, you can change and have five different cars in the Camaro.” The ZL1 also has a different suspension geometry that really paid off on the track, Reuss said.

One question we had for Reuss was how he felt the ZL1 stacked up against the Corvette, considering it now packs a detuned (relatively speaking of course) version of the Corvette ZR1’s LS9 under the hood. “This car is quite different than a Corvette,” he said, “We’re tuning it different than the Corvette; this is a much easier car to drive fast than the Corvette.” Reuss continued, “The reason why I say that is it’s probably a more ‘neutral’ car. The Corvette you have to learn how to drive, just like a racecar. This car is very forgiving, very fun and people are going to have a blast with it.”Reuss believes the ZL1 is so good that its competition (like the Mustang Boss 302) will not only be surprised by the power it puts down to the ground, but by how refined it is. “This is not a full-blown, stripped-out [race] car,” said Reuss, “This is a very nice car so you can drive it to work every day, take it on the track on the weekend, and clean everybody’s clock.”Chevrolet still has quite a bit of last minute testing to do before the Camaro ZL1 enters production sometime next year, with sales likely beginning in the late spring. “We’re getting ready to put about a quarter-million miles on it on a test basis, validation wise at our own hands so that we find any last details that we’ve missed,” Reuss told us.Before Reuss packed up to roll out in the Camaro ZL1 he brought over to our offices, we asked him if he had anything to tell the Camaro fans that have been waiting for an answer to the Mustang GT 5.0, Boss 302, and Super Snake“I want to tell them that the wait is worth it,” he said, “This car really doesn’t have a direct competitor in segment, or out of segment – that’s how good the car is and I can tell you right now, I’ve driven a lot of cars and done a lot of development – this car is one of the most refined cars.” Reuss continued, “It’s one of the easiest cars I’ve ever driven to drive fast and hard. Everybody’s going to have a good time with it.”

Alright mac, listen up, if you want to start something then go somewhere where vultures like you are welcome. Also, I assumed that we were comparing the ZL-1, which by the way does not yet have an "official" price, to the Nurburgring Edition, since the logical comparison between any two cars in this case is to compare their highest performance variants, despite the price difference.

Yeah the haters are crazy. But i have come to reallize why so many mustang people love to hate on it. Cause Ford doesn't have a car compairable to the Corvette, so they don't really have a good excuse to target it. Where the Camaro is a competitor for the Mustang, so then it is beating it they have nothing better to do then say buy a Corvette instead. That way they don't feel as bad loosing to a Corvette. Its the same with all these other people saying that mercades and all these other cars are better. Your only saying that now cause you can, and have yet to see it on the road.
I bet your most people who know what the Camaro ZL1 is. If they see it on the road, even if they have a exotic car they will think twice about racing, cause guess who will be the most butt hurt?
If a ferrari wins, oh well he spent 300k on it, but if the Ferrari looses. you can expect to hear the excuses flying on why they launched wrong or there tires are worn out.
After racing my SS aroundn a track with a bunch of porshes, and finding out that most people who own those cars have no clue how to drive them on a track. It comforts me to all you people saying it wont beat these exotics around the track. No it might not if there is a race car driver in it. But most people who do own them wont even know how to drive them.

Because to buy each on brand new your going 2 get a base model corvette, that i'm sad to say will loose to the ZL1. So who really wants to buy the slower car? And if your going to want them each fully loaded, the corvette is going to be over 60k.
Well you can buy a USED car. Um then why would you buy a new Ferrari? When you could buy a used Zonda or some other better car for the same price as a new one? Because you want a NEW car. You want to be the only owner of it. You don't care if it gets beat by other cars.

That is a valid argument. You might beat me around the worlds biggest most demanding track, but i can beat you around a small less extreme track. Not saying that laguna seca isn't a great track, but why do you think all car companies develop there cars around the Ring? Because its a freaken torture track.

What is so much more diff about the Nissan GTR? The fact that the launch control system in it, isn't very reliable. That is kinda out of the price range of the cars we are talking about here. Its more of a 90k car. I love the GTR i really do. But i also know that when something is wrong with it you have to take it to a dealer. Even for spark plugs. Its not a car you can really work on, on your own. And thats why people love american cars. Is you don't have to have someone else take care of the car for you. You can fix it yourself.

SuperDuper. you are so right. The hate in here is crazy as hell. And most of thing coming out of pp mouth don't make a damn be of sense. GM didn't build this car to beat the vette A baby would know this. What's the purpose of a GT500 or a Boss 302. Funny how none of the haters said a damn thing
when ford came out with these cars. But I understand why you are mad. Both these cars will get there butts whip by the ZL1. Well GM myself and a hold lot of other pp are not sorry. Who cares if you don't buy or even like them. Just don't pull up to the side of one. Not unless you want your butt whip. So too all the hater go back to your Fords or even foreign cars. Cause this GM only plays with supercars. LMAO.

"but what does the camaro do that the vette doesn’t?"
Technically it sits 4 people....
It is designed as a Muscle Car/Cruiser not a Sports Car ala the Vette
It has a different look
The comparable packages are far more affordable for the Camaro
It is more fuel efficient
It works better as daily driver.
it costs less to insure
It costs less to maintain
I might as well ask Dan why he is driving the Brabus CL instead of the SLS or SLR...it is the same kind of question...
It is pretty obvious ..."You don't get it..." and you know, for most peple who don't get it...that is ok....because they will usually try and understand....but you on the other hand are not looking for understanding...you are looking to convince others that you are right....which you are not....part of you not getting it is to know that there is no wrong or right concerning the car. The ZL-1 is a great accomplishment for GM and Chevy. As was the 5.0 GT and the Boss 302 for Ford, the 392 Challenger for Dodge, the CLS550 for Mercedes, the Panamera (as contraversial as it can be) is for Porsche, etc., etc., etc.
If you don't like something about a car....hey great...that is YOUR perogative...I think you could have done well to make a single statement saying..I don't like it...this is why..and be done with it....But No...you have to go on some GM vendetta as if GM personally came in and boffed your wife and got her pregnant right in front of you. And in order to back your argument you make the stupidest of comparisons of a muscle car to high end luxury sedans or high end exotics....They are not comparable...they don't do the same thingsand do not elicit the same emotions....and they definitely are not in the same car classes....
.If BMW's are your things...GREAT...why are you talking....no not talking...arguing about a Muscle Car? It certainly isn't about gaining an understanding....Do yourself a favor and everyone else a favor and stick to the threads on cars you do enjoy until such time you DO want to gain an understanding...

good question, the corvette is a bit dated.The zl1 is pricey, cuz it has to do with the new stuff that they added to the car such as launch control, a new engine, electronic steering,etc. Sure it wobbles because they are still testing the car. I would buy the zl1. But if you guys hate, just wait til the 2014 c7 corvette debuts at an auto show next fall or winter.

I could say the same thing about all the cars that are slower than the Camaro around the ring but cost more than 2x the price. A used car is always a better overall value - why even bring it up? You said the ZL1 will drop like a stone in resale so by the year after its debut it will be a better value than a used Vette again? Your always up to the same antics. You can make up a reason to hate anything. Few people put as much time and effort into hating one company as you. Bravo?

because I don't get it, what's the purpose of this car
the vette's a better sports car for similar money, and the pricetag on this camaro throws the whole value part of being a musclecar out the window

"When you pull up anywhere in a Mercedes, people look at you differently, view you as an intelligent person and not someone that just bought a brick for a car."
That's odd. I really don't judge people by what they drive.
I know a guy who has a new Porsche and also an old rusty Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. How to view him? My oh my!

well, for example..
take a look at the lexus LFA lap time at the ring, then look at how those times compare in the recent laguna seca handling test motortrend did.
some of the cars the LFA beats around the ring, beat the LFA around laguna seca
what do you think is a more trustworthy and repeatable test, a lap of the ring, or a lap of laguna?

ok pete, calm down. honestly i could care less if the camaro hangs with any of the exotics at laguna. im simply stating the obvious here, GM has worked some pretty awesome magic on this pig! will i ever go buy a ZL1? prolly not, i want a CORVETTE

How many buyers are gonna drive on Laguna Seca, or on any track?
Even with a car like this, they will be the minority. Street feel and real-world performance will be the deciding factor for most buyers.

yeah, that's what I don't get.. if you're a chevy fan.. and you're not concerned with passenger hauling or cargo capacity... why not just buy a vette.
if you want high HP, good handling, and relative value, the vette does that already
what does the camaro do better than the vette? other than look like a cartoon version of the 69 car

hey DAN, yea to most of us working class people $25/hr is a good honest living these days. YOUR also right about people looking at you differently when you pull up in your BENZ!! its not a good thing unless they are as superficial as you are.. you know its people like you that drive these GERMAN cars that give them their bad stigma w/ most people, not that the cars are bad at all, but because their owners usually have a chip on their shoulder..all im saying is try to be a bit nicer when you grace these threads with your ominous presence

I dont CARE camaros suck, put a million horsepower and the best suspension and it still is a rolling brick. I would rather buy a base corvette than this. Its ugly, heavy and cheap (not saying the corvette feels isn't). At least it purpose built. What is the camaro purpose? How long will it run before its beat out by Mustang and cancelled?

can it hang with ultra exotics around a real track, like laguna seca?
a track where the laps are short enough, that the drivers are actually getting to the edge of the performance envelope?
a track where the best lap is a repeatable and consistent number
nurburgring is so long, it's less about the car and more about the driver

AWESOME, well naysayers and those who called BS. i believe we have proof, now its back to its ugly interior, its inferior to a BENZ/BIMMER, or its so heavy! people most of you need to grow up!! how bout VALUE?? you are getting a car that can run AND HANDLE with ULTRA EXOTICS costing more than anyone on here can afford from your local chevy dealer..GMs done it again, yet another track and real world monster for people to BIT** and whine about!!!!!! im sure they are very pleased

Look dude, I know you must like stroking your ego, but no one gives two shits about how much you make. All I saw in your post is you bragging about your expensive car, bashing people about how much they make, etc. Must be hard to type with your nose so high in the air.

In your post, you said that when people see you in a Mercedes, they view you as "intelligent." Then I read your post, notice all the grammatical errors, and I start to wonder... Then, I see the fact that you wrote a rather large post while "driving!!!" Not very intelligent, in fact, that's quite STUPID. It seems that no matter how much I spend on a helmet, jacket, etc. I can never be safe until you idiots get off the road. Do me a favor; your arrogance let's me know that you can afford my medical bills, I don't want your money... Keep it safe and save a life by not texting while driving... And for the record, drug dealers buy expensive cars, but that doesn't make them "intelligent..." That's ridiculous!

I'm picky when it comes to cars. Well I have the same car as Jeremy Clarkson with a V12 but much more expensive, I've put 83k on the car from 0 without any problems and haven't been to the dealership after oil changes etc has run out. Jeremy bought one that hasn't been taken care of properly.
And ok fine I am guilty of not sitting in the Camaro or the Mustang, but I will not in neither of them until the enterior gets redesigned properly. Makes me puke

What sports car does have the practicality for the price. There is a reason they are called Sports Cars. Cause people arn't buying them for Practicality. They are an enjoyment that people endulge on. Not the car you go up the mountain side on a muddy road to drop your kid off at there friends house in.
Oh and yes the Mercedes is a nice car. I agree. But it won't be everytime you have to drive it to the Dealership to fix. Cause as far as i know they arn't that great. Watch top gear with Jeremy Clarkson. Everytime they mention how much he spends fixing it he shys away. And the only reason he can own a Mercedes is well he can afford to fit the fixit build. Most people who are buying a car like this need a car that can be fixed for a reasonable price. Not 1300 bucks because the ignition coil went out.
Why is the mustang more practical? You can see out of it better? Oh yeah cause thats what i bought a sports car for. So it looks like a sedan. I'm not saying i hate the mustang cause i do love it, but i love the camaro as well. When it came down to buying one. I drove each and atleast with the Camaro it doesn't seem like the dealer guy is humping your arm. The interiour space on a mustang might have more head room, but it has less leg room and less elbow room. If you don't agree with that then let me know and then go sit in them again. I have a big friend who can sit in the camaro and still have someone behind him. In the mustang the seat has to be all the way back and his knees are still in the dash board.

Yeah cause the whole 10th of a second that the GT beats the SS by when driven by 2 profesional matters to the average joe people who will buy them. While most of them have no $%#$*%& clue how to drive them. The SS with launch control will do essentualy the same 0-60 time every single run. Where the GT driver is going to struggle getting the power down with every single launch.
And like i said before for the 2012 model year the Camaro ZL1 will beat the GT500 but then they will update it again. After one year of production because its losing, just like they did with the 2010 GT that lasted one model year. Then they anounced after 1 year of this BRAND NEW 2010 mustang that there is a New one coming out, with more HP in 2011.
ITS A COMPETITION
Its going to go back and forth the sooner you guys realize that the better off you will be. Without one the other wouldn't get any better. Look at how long Ford stuck with the 4.6L POS Mustang. The SS comes out and look, Here is the new 5.0. Thank god for the Camaro its made Ford build an awesome car as well.

Wow, so stinky pete, you really that low? "If being waved at by little kids is your thing...". lol. You really are a loser aren't you? Its about respect, inspiration, desire, and the fact that they are looking at a current generation of an American Icon. I guess I was right with my first comment. You really are jealous....jealous my peice of crap GM car with the shitty interior is more desired than any one of your coorporate douchebag luxury cars. I'm done with you Pete. Have a nice day.

Guys I'm not comparing my Brabus to the camaro to be honest. I have an older E class with 160k, and no problems it all depends what kind of idiot is driving the car.
To whoever said my car has a 30k body kit, yes it does and costs more then your car.
But to be honest with you guys, I've had a brand new Chevy and the reliability is just not there.
And for the Camaro if it hits more than 170 good, I didn't see the video posting, but for a brick to reach those speeds is amazing I'll give you that guys. I was comparing the fun factor, quality mostly, design, speed between the German cars, and the Mustangs. I like the Mustang a bit more than the Camaro, in other terms I like them both. I would even buy them, but I just can. Look at the dreadful interior designs. C63 is cheap, not as expensive as you guys think. It's fun, comfortable, fast, all around practical, quality is there. When you pull up anywhere in a Mercedes, people look at you differently, view you as an intelligent person and not someone that just bought a brick for a car. I'll agree with you that the Mustang and the Camaro are quicker, but Camaro just does not have the practicality for the price that will be asked. Radio is crap just like someone has said it before and the trunk space is not there, blind spots etc. I can go all day long about the Camaro. Mustang on the other hand has been designed a bit better on the looks, but interiors have been given up on half way. You may be laughing, but many know it's true. You spent ur time inside the car and not strapped to the front of the car while driving.
Stroker, be more mature and watch your language, you probably stroke every time you see a Mercedes. You call $25hr good living? You call Mercedes a bad manufacturer when you never owned a decent German vehicle. There is a reason I stick to them because I've never had any problems etc etc. But who agrees with me that the Mustang is more practical and more prestigious over the Camaro?
And yes I am writing this while driving.

Actually I thought about it again. I know the Mustang family kills the Camaro right now. Sure not in sales, but everywhere else, the Mustang is superior. But can't I enjoy this ZL1 for what it is right now?

GM wants to match the Mustang Model for Model that does't mean the ZL1 won't beat the Boss. Anti.. You are just bitter. The lap time speaks for itself. Keep talking but since the Current Gt500 is the slowest 550h.p car in the world adding more power won't do anything but make the problem worse. Shoot it can barley match the 300lb heavier CTS-V

And how long has the ZL1 been in development for.? I had better be able to beat the current GT500.
But as it stands right now, the GT500, Boss and GT chew up and spit out Camaros, as the ZL1 STILL isn't available.
And once the 2013 GT500 shows up, lol, good luck Chevy.

the problem is MOST northloop laptimes are independent tested laptimes..done by sportauto chief editor and cheif test driver... one warm up lap one time attack lap... and their laptimes are the one the big companys like GM Nissan Subaru and Cadillac attak with extensive track testing and hundrets of laps befor the final attack done by a highly skilled race/test driver.
Next effect we never know the track conditions... Hans Stuck one of the kings of the Ring one explained autocar from the UK that it is impossible to set production car lap records after a VLN or any other race series running the Ring with slicks because the rubber of street and race cars do not match and the Ring is slippery like ice on street tires after a VLN race. sportauto does not have to money to rent the track at perfect conditions long after VLN races... they have to go if there is a sport of free time.
you can compare Ringtimes only in two way... factory claim vs factory calim and accept that the cheat all which they do no matter what they claim (Subaru clearly noted in the Ring Challenge video about the 7:55min run that the car was a testmule running in a configuration not avaible for commercial customers.. so it isn´t a production car!)... independent laptime vs independent tested laptime done by a car magazine ...
group test at best all tested under same track conditions or at leat always tested by the same driver

This is with a Amature at the wheel unlike some other makes..Cough LFA... This car is almost 20 seconds faster than the CTS-V.... WOW the Current GT500 has a hard time keeping up with the CTS-V NO WONDER HE SAID “This car really doesn’t have a direct competitor in segment, or out of segment" This is going to chew up and spit out the GT500 and the Boss has been FIRED! lol Good luck Ford...

Dan,
I think you are looking for a little too much attention.
1st off The ZL1 just posted a 7:41 lap at the Nurburgring with a top speed of 172mph
2nd If given a choice on looks, I guarantee 75% of people would choose the Zl1 over your beloved C class.
3rd you are comparing a luxury car (Brabus CL Series) that starts at $400K to a $55K muscle car. I could buy a couple cows, feed them sushi for a year, and have a professional make me the sickest leather interior available. Then I could buy a house to park the car at, and have a full freezer to feed myself for 6 months.
Obviously this is not your type of car, so why comment on it?

There is no 2005 Z06. 2004 was the last MY of the C5, 2006 was the first MY of the C6. And this is going to be an immensely nicer, more refined, tractable car than a C6 Z06. That car is nothing but a missile, plain and simple. It's about as one-dimensional and raw as you can get. This is a completely different animal.

Actually, I can get a 2005 Corvette Z06 for $45,000 and beat the new ZL-1 on the Nurburgring. Check the fastest track times and the Z06 isn't even supercharged! Why get a brand new ZL-1 when you can get a used car that's cheaper and just as fast, if not faster. I'd rather the Z06 over any other vette since there's not as many out there.